Foldable umbrella



Ot.'23, 1956 s. N. SMITH' ,767,7

FOLDABLE UMBRELLA Filed Aug. 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

BY Gerald Nfimizh.

Oct. 23, 1956 G. N. SMITH 2,767,722

FOLDABLE UMBRELLA Filed Aug. 5; 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

W W M 4 A rro/wsys.

United States Patent O FOLDABLE UMBRELLA Gerald N. Smith, Kansas City,Mo. Application August 5, 1954, Serial No. 447,981

Claims. (Cl. 13519.5)

This invention relates to umbrellas and more particularly those ofself-sustaining material for emergency or temporary use.

The objects of the present invention are to provide an umbrella formedof a sheet of inexpensive form-sustaining material, such as papertreated or calendered to be subst-antially waterproof; to provide anumbrella construction formed of a blank consisting of a sheet ofsubstantially waterproof material cut and scored and folded to form aconical umbrella-like body structure with depending riblike flanges andlocks holding the structure in shape and serving as a handle forcarrying; to provide such an umbrella structure that is foldable to areduced size for packing, shipping or storage; to provide such anumbrella structure with tabs and slots for locking the parts inassembled position; and to provide an umbrella that can be manufacturedeasily and at low cost from inexpensive self form-sustaining materialthat can be easily stored in a small space and is efficient in use as anemergency um- 'brella.

In accomplishing these and other objects ofthe present invention '1 haveprovided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which areillustrated .in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an umbrella embodying the features ofthe present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a blank prepared for forming an umbrella.

Fig, 3 is a bottom view of an umbrella made from the blank shown in Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the umbrella on the line 44, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the umbrella in foldedcondition.

Fig. v6 is a transverse sectional view through the umbrella on the line66, Fig. 3. a

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the umbrella on the line77, Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view through the locking tabs and slots inposition for holding the rib flanges together.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the umbrella looking from underneathsame.

Fig. 10 is a perspective viewof the umbrella in partially foldedcondition.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the umbrella in folded condition.

Fig. -12 is an enlarged detail elevation of the locking tab arrangementin the rib flanges.

Referring more in detail to the drawings: v ;1 designates an umbrellawhich, when erected, includes a body member 2 of substantially conicalshape, with depending flanges 3 suitably secured together to form asubstantially diametrical rib 4 for aiding in retaining the body memberin its conical shape and also for use as a gripping member by which theumbrella is supported over the head of the user. The body member 2 andflanges 3 are preferably formed of a sheet 5 of a suitable semirigidmaterial which is substantially self form-sustaining when shaped andsubstantially waterproof, as for example, a sheet of paperboard treatedor calendered to enhance the ability thereof to shed water or the like.

The sheet of semirigid material is preferably cut to form a blank 6 asillustrated in Fig. 2. The blank includes spaced body sections 7 and 8,each of which has circular peripheral edges 9 of a length formingone-half of the circle at the periphery or base of the conical bodymember 2. The bodysections 7 and 3 are each defined by the circularedges 9 and score lines 10 and 11, which intersect .as at 12 whereby thebody sections 7 and 8 each forms one-half of the conical body member 2and the point of intersection 12 of the score lines 10 and 11 is at theapex of the conical body member 2.

Each body section 7 and 8 is preferably provided with radial score lines13 and 14 to divide the respective sections into three equal portionswhereby the structure can be folded into a small package, however, ifdesired the score lines 13 and 14 may be omitted and then when foldedthe structure would be relatively fiat and of a size substantially equalto one of the sections 7 or 8. The score lines 1% of the sections 7 and8 are spaced apart as at 15 adjacent the periphery of the blank anddiverge to the points 12, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The portion of theblank between the score lines 10 is substantially equally divided by ascore line 16 which cooperates with the score lines It to defineconnected flanges 17 and 18 connected at the score lines 19 with theumbrella sections 7 and 8 respectively. Flanges 19 and 20 are connectedto the umbrella sections 7 and 8 respectively at the score lines 11thereof. The spacings between the score lines 11 and the edges 21 of theflanges 19 and 29 are substantially identical with the spacing andangular arrangement between the score lines It and the score line 16.The edges 21 of the flanges 19 and 29, as shown in the blank in Fig. 2,converge to a point 22, and cuts 23 and 24 extend from the point 22 tothe points 12 to define the inner ends of the flanges 7 and 19 and 18and 2t) respectively.

The flanges 17 and 18 are preferably provided with substantiallyU-shaped cuts substantially midway between the ends of said flanges, andscore lines extend between the legs of the U-shaped cuts to form tabs 25of suitable size that when the tabs are hinged from the flangeshandholds 26 are provided therein. The tabs 25 and the handholdscooperate to form locking members as later described. The flanges 17 and18 are provided with pairs of U-shaped cuts 27 adjacent the ends of theflanges, as defined by the cuts 23 and 24, and the flanges 19 and 20 areeach provided with spaced apertures 28 and 28' which cooperate with tabs29 formed by the U-shaped cuts 27 to provide locking structures as laterdescribed. The apertures 28 are of such size that the tabs 29 will passtherethrough and the apertures 23' are smaller in size.

The blank 6 is folded on the score line 16 whereby the flanges 17 and 18are moved into face to face contact and said flanges are suitablysecured together by glue or other suitable fastening devices, forexample staples 30, arranged adjacent the score lines 10. The flanges 19and 20 are then brought together into face to face contact whereby theyextend from the score lines 11 in the same direction as the flanges 17and 18 extend from the score lines 10, with the inner portions of theflanges 19 and 20 overlapping the sides of the flanges 17 and 18. Thenthe flanges 19 and 20 are suitably secured together by staples 31, orother suitable fastening devices arranged adjacent the score lines 11and the edges 21, the fastening of the flanges 19 and 20 extending fromthe periphery of the umbrella sections toward the apex thereof andterminating in spaced relation to the apex a distance slightly greaterthan the length of the edges formed by the cuts 23 and 24. Then if thescore lines 13 and 14 are omitted the body sections 7 and 8 may befolded on the score lines 10 and 11 to provide a flat structuresubstantially the shape of either of the sections 7 or 8 and may bestored until it is desired to use the umbrella.

With the score lines 13 and 14 the body sections 7 and 8 are folded onthe score lines 13 whereby the portion between the score lines 10 and 13are swung inwardly to lie under the portions between the score lines 13and 14 of the respective sections, as illustrated in Fig. 10, and duringsuch folding the rib portion defined by the flanges 17 and 18 movesbetween the unfastened inner portion of the flanges 19 and 20 to aposition illustrated in Figs. 5, l0 and 11, whereby the folded structureis flat and substantially twothirds of the area of a body section 7 or8.

When it is desired to use the umbrella structure, the body member isgrasped to swing the body sections on their respective score lines tomove the body to a substantially conical form and the tabs 29 alignedwith the apertures 27. Then a finger is inserted in the apertures 28' topress the tabs 29 through the apertures 28, as illustrated in Fig. 8,tain the body 2 in substantially a conical form. The tabs are thenpressed to fold same outwardly on the score lines to provide thehandholds for grasping the rib forming flanges 17 and 18 whereby theumbrella structure may be supported over the head of the user.

After use, the tabs 29 may be pressed back through the apertures 28 intocoplanar arrangement with the flanges 19 and 20 and the umbrellastructure again folded for storage until it is desired to again usesame.

'It is believed obvious that I have provided a foldable umbrellastructure that is easily manufactured from inexpensive material that iseflicient in use as an emergency umbrella.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An emergency umbrella comprising, a body member of selfform-sustaining material having a pair of body sections each of lessthan semicircular outline with radial side edges whereby when adjacentside edges thereof are engaged the sections cooperate to form a conicalstructure,

flanges depending from each of the side edges of each of the pair ofsections, said flanges on the adjacent edges of the pairs of sectionsbeing secured together in face to face contact, said flanges forminggripping members, and means securing the flanges on one side of thesections to the flanges on the other side of the sections for retainingsaid flanges against relative movement and in position to maintain thebody in conical form.

2. An emergency umbrella comprising, a body member of selfform-sustaining material having a pair of body sections each of lessthan semicircular outline with radial side edges whereby when adjacentside edges thereof are engaged the sections cooperate to form a conicalstructure, flanges depending from and hingedly connected to each of theside edges of each of the pair of sections, said flanges on the adjacentedges of the pair of sections being secured together in face to facecontact, selected flanges having slots therein forming handholds wherebysaid flanges form gripping members, the flanges on one side of thesections having portions overlapping portions of the flanges on theother side of the sections, and interengaging means in the overlappingportions of the flanges retaining said flanges against relative movementand in position to maintain the body in conical form.

3. An emergency umbrella comprising, a body member of selfform-sustaining material having a pair of body sections each of lessthan semicircular outline with radial side edges whereby when adjacentradial side edges thereof to lock the rib forming flanges in position toreare engaged the sections cooperate to form a conical structure, aplurality of radial score lines in each body section intermediate theside edges dividing each body section into a plurality of substantiallyequal and like shaped portions, flanges depending from and hingedlyconnected to each of the side edges of each of the pair of sections,said flanges on the adjacent edges of the pair of sections being securedtogether in face to face contact, said flanges forming gripping members,and means retaining said flanges against relative movement and inposition to maintain the body in conical form, said body sections beingfoldable on selected score lines therein to swing the body sectionsagainst the flanges to form a relatively flat structure when theumbrella is not in use.

4. An emergency umbrella comprising, a body member of selfform-sustaining material having a pair of body sections each of lessthan semicircular outline with radial side edges whereby when adjacentradial side edges thereof are engaged the sections cooperate to form aconical structure, a plurality of radial score lines in each bodysection intermediate the side edges dividing each body section into aplurality of substantially equal and like shaped portions, flangesdepending from and hingedly connected to each of the side edges of eachof the pair of sections, said flanges on the adjacent edges of the pairof sections being secured together in face to face contact, selectedflanges having slots therein forming handholds whereby said flanges formgripping members, the flanges on one side of the sections havingportions overlapping portions of the flanges on the other side of thesections, and interengaging means in the overlapping portions of theflanges retaining said flanges against relative movement and in positionto maintain the body in conical form, said body sections being foldableon selected score lines therein to swing the body sections against theflanges to form a relatively flat structure when the umbrella is not inuse.

5. An emergency umbrella comprising, a single sheet of selfform-sustaining material and having a pair of body portions each havingcircular peripheral edges of a. length to form one-half of a circle of abase of a conical shape defined by said body portions with radial scorelines defining sides of said portions, flanges at each of the sides ofthe pair of body portions and hingedly connected thereto at said radialscore lines, the flanges at one side of one of the body portions beinghingedly connected to the flange at the adjacent side of the other bodyportion, said connected flanges having cuts therein intermediate theirends forming handhold slots, said flanges on each of the sides of onebody portion being folded into face to face contact with the flanges onthe adjacent sides of the other body portion, means securing thehingedly connected flanges in face to face contact, the flanges on theother side of the body portions from the hingedly connected flangeshaving end portions adjacent the apex of the conical form overlappingthe adjacent end portion of the hingedly connected flanges of the bodyportions, and interengaging means in the overlapping portions of theflanges retaining said flanges against relative movement and in positionto maintain the body in conical form.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,692,461 McKinney Nov. 20, 1928 2,639,533 Casals May 26, 1953 FOREIGNPATENTS 347,678 Great Britain Apr. 27, 1931

